Man and woman charged with robbery, kidnapping in Perryville

A man and woman are facing charges following an alleged robbery and kidnapping in Perryville, Missouri.

Jeffery S. Franks and Kaitlyn M. Martin, both of Perryville, have been charged with first-degree robbery and kidnapping, both felonies.

An officer was patrolling the night of Sept. 15 near Perry County Lake when he heard someone yelling for help, according to a probable-cause statement filed by detective Teresa Cox. The man, Terry Ervin, told the patrolman he had just been robbed.

Ervin said he was lured to MotoMart in Perryville by a woman who called to tell him the pumps were not working. When he arrived, he found the pumps to be working, but before he could exit his vehicle, a man holding a gun approached his driver's-side window and ordered him to unlock the passenger door, the affidavit stated.

The man got in the car and told Ervin to follow the silver Pontiac in front of them, Cox wrote. Ervin said he followed the Pontiac, which was driven by a woman, to Perry County Lake, where he was told to park, take off his shirt, get in the back of the car and lie down.

Once they all were in the car, the male suspect told the woman to drive to an ATM, Cox wrote. Ervin told police he was forced to take money from his bank account and give it to the man. At that point, they drove back to Perry County Lake and dropped Ervin off some distance from his vehicle, Cox wrote.

Evidence collected at the scene included a black Baretta-style pistol BB gun, a black-and-white handkerchief, an orange-and-green Wisconsin Badgers cap, a gray hoodie and other clothing items, Cox wrote.

Video from the security camera near the ATM showed the incident, including a man getting up from a position of lying down in the back seat, Cox wrote. The rear passenger was shown making a transaction and handing the money to the front passenger.

Details of the car shown in the video matched the description of a vehicle that had been found matching the description of the suspect vehicle.

Officers found the vehicle at a duplex on Route B, Cox wrote. Police questioned the female resident, Martin, about the car. She said she was the only person who drives the car, and the night of Sept. 15, she and Franks were "just driving around" until about 11 p.m. when they went to Wal-Mart, according to the affidavit.

Ervin's work phone log showed an incoming call from what Martin later confirmed was her cellphone number, Cox wrote.

Judge Craig Brewer has set Franks' and Martin's bond at $25,000 each, cash only. No court dates have been scheduled.

kwebster@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3646

Pertinent address:

Route B, Perry County, MO

Perry County Lake, MO